Celebrity friends

Antonio Banderas celebrates 'dear friend' Salma Hayek's birthday with photos over the years

The pair have been friends for decades, making their transition to Hollywood in the same decade

SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 1:08 PM EDTSEP 3, 2025, 1:08 PM EDT

Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek have one of our favorite friendships. Hayek celebrated her birthday on September 2nd, sharing some photos of herself enjoying the sun in a bikini. She received many congratulations and well-wishes from her friends and followers, among them, Banderas, who shared a sweet post on Instagram sharing the evolution of their friendship over the years.

Hayek and Banderas at the 2022 premiere of "Puss In Boots: The Last Wish"

The photos shared on Banderas' Instagram show the pair making different movies over the years and attending various prestigious events. Photos showed the two at the premiere of "Puss In Boots: The Last Wish," one of the last films they made together.

Another photo shows the two on the set of "Desperado," their first project together, released in 1995. The movie is credited with launching Banderas and Hayek to Hollywood fame. The last image in the post shows them in the '90s, with Banderas wearing a black suit and Hayek wearing a white silk dress, with the two attending the premiere of "Desperado" at that year's Cannes Film Festival.

"Happy Birthday, Salma Hayek," reads Banderas' caption. "My dear friend."

The pair first met on the set of 'Desperado', in 1995

More details about Banderas and Hayek's friendship

Banderas and Hayek's friendship dates back many years, with the two often discussing how much they mean to each other.

"It means so much to me," said Hayek of their friendship on the "Today Show." "In this business, we've been friends for over 20 years," she said.

The pair at the 1995 Cannes Premiere of 'Desperado'

"Maybe more than that," added Banderas.

"Maybe we don't say how much," joked Hayek. She also discussed the challenges of maintaining a friendship where the two live all over the world. "Antonio has never stopped working, and he moves around. To stay friends like that is so great. And, when it comes to work, he's my good luck charm. He gave me my start."

Banderas shared that the two bonded over their similar experiences. "We practically started at the same time in America. We were coming from our own countries. She's a real friend. Every time we work together, immediately, there's a chemistry that's very difficult to explain, and I don't want to intellectualize it; it just happened, and it's great."